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Stress can masquerade as a number of different things in our lives. For example, physically, it can take the form of a migraine, an upset stomach, or insomnia. Emotionally, it can lead to us feeling burnt out, exhausted, or just plain overwhelmed.
When we experience stress, there’s often not much of a warning beforehand. Our day might be running smoothly until several things happen at once, and then suddenly, we’re overwhelmed and feeling paralyzed by the stress.
Fortunately, there are a few quick tips you can utilize when you start to feel overwhelmed. These tips will counteract the stress you’re feeling, and help you to get back on track.
5 Ways to Counteract Stress When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
1. Focus on how you’re breathing. Often when we start to feel overwhelmed, our bodies shift into fight or flight mode. We become panicked, and our breathing grows shallow, which inhibits the normal flow of oxygen into our brains. When this happens, our thoughts become erratic from the reduced oxygen, thereby worsening the stress we feel. Counteract this directly by focusing on your breathing. Force your heart rate to slow down and relax by taking long deep breaths. Inhale through your nose, and exhale through your mouth for several minutes.
2. Turn up your music. Research continues to confirm that music can actually help to reduce psychological stress. So the next time you feel the stress coming on, pop in your earphones and listen to a few of your favorite songs.
3. Find a way to laugh. Who doesn’t love to laugh? Laughing makes us feel good through the release of endorphins: the happy hormones in our bodies. Additionally, laughing can also reduce cortisol levels, which typically run high when we’re stressed. Reduce the stress in your body by having a good laugh, whether it’s listening to a comedian online or calling up a friend who always has a good joke.
4. Help someone else. There’s a reason why it feels good to help others. Studies have shown that helping others can actually reduce our own stress, while also boosting our well being. Show kindness to others, even if it just means holding the door open for someone else.
5. Choose a better mindset. It’s all to easy to feel helpless when we feel the stress taking over our lives, and to adapt the mindset that we have “no control” over what’s going on. While we may not have control over the world and what life decides to throws at us, we are in control of our reaction and how we choose to experience life. Make the effort to adapt a healthier mindset by simply refocusing your life on what you’re grateful for. Or better yet, jot down a few items that you’re grateful for every day, whether it’s your job that pays the bills, the roof over your head, or the friends and family you have to lean on.
Related: 4 Compelling Reasons Why You should Make Gratitude a Daily Practice
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